<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM
         WHITMAN CORPORATION'S CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND IS
         QUALIFIED IN IT'S ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000049573
<NAME> WHITMAN CORPORATION
<MULTIPLIER> 1000
       

<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          JAN-02-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               JAN-02-1999
<CASH>                                         147,600
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  173,900
<ALLOWANCES>                                     3,200
<INVENTORY>                                     80,000
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               429,100
<PP&E>                                       1,006,500
<DEPRECIATION>                                 507,200
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,569,300
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          233,200
<BONDS>                                        603,600
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                       499,800
<OTHER-SE>                                   (173,400)
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 1,569,300
<SALES>                                      1,635,000
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                             1,635,000
<CGS>                                        1,024,500
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                1,431,200<F1>
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                15,500
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              36,100<F2>
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                152,200
<INCOME-TAX>                                    69,700
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             62,500<F3>
<DISCONTINUED>                                   (500)
<EXTRAORDINARY>                               (18,300)
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    43,700
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.43<F4>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.42<F5>
<FN>
<F1>
TOTAL COSTS INCLUDE COST OF GOODS SOLD, S,G&A EXPENSES AND AMORTIZATION  EXPENSE
OF $1,024,500, $391,100 AND $15,600, RESPECTIVELY.

<F2>
INTEREST EXPENSE, NET, INCLUDES INTEREST EXPENSE, INTEREST INCOME FROM HUSSMANN
INTERNATIONAL, INC. ("HUSSMANN") AND MIDAS, INC.("MIDAS") AND OTHER INTEREST
INCOME OF $46,400, $1,600 AND $8,700, RESPECTIVELY.  INTEREST INCOME FROM
HUSSMANN AND MIDAS RELATED TO INTERCOMPANY LOANS AND ADVANCES.  THE RELATED
INTEREST EXPENSE RECORDED BY HUSSMANN AND MIDAS IS INCLUDED IN INCOME (LOSS)
FROM DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS.

<F3>
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS IS REDUCED BY MINORITY INTEREST OF $20,000.

<F4>
BASIC EARNINGS (LOSS) PER SHARE:

CONTINUING OPERATIONS    $ 0.62
DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS   (0.01)
EXTRAORDINARY LOSS        (0.18)
NET INCOME               $ 0.43

<F5>
DILUTED EARNINGS (LOSS) PER SHARE:

CONTINUING OPERATIONS    $ 0.61
DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS   (0.01)
EXTRAORDINARY LOSS        (0.18)
NET INCOME               $ 0.42
</FN>
        

</TABLE>